I Have Good News and Bad News.

I recently read about the high costs of various cancer drugs and treatments. In the case of FDA-approved prostate cancer treatments, a course of Provenge (sipuleucel-T) costs $93,000. Zytiga (abiraterone acetate) administered via four 250 mg pills daily costs $60,000 annually. Four 40 mg pills of Xtandi (enzalutamide) taken daily costs $59,600 per year. Yervoy (ipilimumab) is an FDA-approved treatment for melanoma which is being investigated in prostate cancer as well. It’s cost is about $116,000 or about $29,000 per infusion, four being needed. It must be noted that these costs can be partially alleviated through Medicare and other supplemental financial aids. The drug developers also can provide financial help to needy patients. One should always consult the company websites.

On the other hand, mercy, compassion and eventual healing via a personal relationship with God available freely through Jesus Christ, have no monetary cost. George Mueller, a 19th century pastor who aided over 10,000 orphans and helped 100,000 poor children receive a Christian education stated the following. “Faith does not operate in the realm of the possible. There is no glory for God in that which is humanly possible. Faith begins where man’s power ends.” While I certainly do not advocate passing up available therapeutic treatments, compare the costs and availability of these two categories.